Last week we kicked off a poll asking “Is it ok for non-Christians to play in worship bands?” So far the results are very interesting, 50% say no it’s not ok, and the other 50% either say yes it’s ok, or in some cases it is ok. You know you have a good poll question when you split 50/50 in the results
This past Sunday I had a meeting with my worship team that would have been absolutely disastrous had any of my team not been a mature Christian, being discipled and united in vision. Perhaps some other time I’ll blog about that meeting, which was one of the most amazing moments I’ve ever had in ministry. For now I’ll talk about why I think it’s important that if we are leading a congregation in worship that only mature, discipled, called and gifted Christians do that.
The criteria we use for any position of leadership uses this set of criteria in order of importance:
- Character
- Calling
- Gifting
Anytime we get those 3 things out of order we put our self in a dangerous situation. I’m not even going to discuss the practical problems and dangers though they are many, instead I’ll focus again on what’s more important and that’s the spiritual problems. I’ve played in a lot of worship bands and many of the times not all were mature, discipled, called Christians. Some of those were gifted and effective musically but none of them had a chance of being effective spiritually because we were modeling that gifting was more important than character and God’s calling. If confronted with that we surely would have said, “no no we don’t believe that“, but then why are we modeling that?
Some might say, “but we’re a missional worship band so for us it makes sense.” To that I’d say then it’s even more important for you to get this and not have non-Christians on your band. Because now the lost is looking at you, and from experience, here’s the 1 question they’ll have that you’ll never be able to answer:
- How important can it be to give your life to Christ if that’s not even a requirement to lead in the worship of that same Christ?
Please re-read that question if you didn’t get it the first time. Now re-read one more time. Worship leaders, let’s model what’s right, let’s not compromise in what’s most important in the kingdom to which your worship band should be leading people to. I’m not promoting legalism, maybe there’s some confluence of circumstances that it makes sense, I’m just saying let’s examine the heart of the issue and keep an eye on what’s most important.
Thanks everyone for all your feedback, I value it greatly.
![[del.icio.us]](http://www.ourrisingsound.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://www.ourrisingsound.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://www.ourrisingsound.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[MySpace]](http://www.ourrisingsound.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://www.ourrisingsound.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Twitter]](http://www.ourrisingsound.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Email]](http://www.ourrisingsound.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed 
Podcast - 
Twitter
Soundcloud
Stumbleupon
Linked In
Email
Loading ...
I may not be the best unbiased person to comment on this post because I am one of the elders that sets standards for leadership in our church. But I must say kyle… I was impressed with the logic behind your argument. I must say character is key!
I think there’s a continuum between ‘disbeliever’ and ‘christian’, where people do believe christianity in a factual sense and are actively being drawn closer to him and even though they haven’t decisively committed, God is already transforming their lives. And if they are somewhere in there, it can be possible for them to worship to a certain extent, so as long as there’s a clear distinction that they’re not leading worship, even if you do let them play a guitar, then it can in some occasions be beneficial. It’s definitely not OK in all, most, or even very many cases, and such a person should never be a permanent fixture in the band, but I believe those confluences do happen on rare occasions where it is possible to answer that question.
Kyle - thanks for this. A very well thought-out reason for integrity and high standards on our worship teams. Makes sense to me.
Jeff, I understand what you mean. How do you think or how do you make a clear distinction between “leading” worship and just playing? That’s where the rubber hits the road for me, I know how it’s done from a church standpoint, but from a person in the congregation standpoint I don’t think they easily see that distinction.
So as you might have sensed in my post, I’ve ceased segregating the band in that sense, I view everyone in the band leading in worship though there is 1 band leader who is guiding the music and and congregation vocally. I do place an even higher expectation on band leaders, but my minimum requirement for all players is what I outlined in the post. That being said I know exactly the circumstance you refer to, having been part of many of those on both sides actually, inviter and invitee. I’ve just been convicted with always modeling what we value and to stop making excuses why I don’t always do that. And by values I mean character and calling above gifting.
What happened when non-Jews wanted to help Nehemiah build the wall in Jerusalem?
What then should our response be when non-Christians want to help us lead a congregation into the presence of God?
Washington: If they really wanted to lead a congregation into the presence of God, the answer would be yes. But trying to lead a congregation into the presence of a God they don’t believe in and serve? Trying to lead the congregation in the worship of a God they don’t worship? Regardless of whether we give permission, they need to go there first before they can lead others. Only by worshiping can you lead worship, otherwise you’re just directing worship from the outside.
It would usually be more analogous to a paralyzed man wanting to help build the wall.
As an agnostic who abandoned all organized religion years ago, I’ll play “devil’s advocate.” (Couldn’t resist the pun!) I had been growing weary with Christianity throughout the years surrounding my confirmation (around middle school in my Lutheran church). Sometimes I was moved by the ideals and what felt like a spiritual experience, sometimes I just felt trapped and oppressed. I don’t want to debate the legitimacy of your religion (I believe we all have our own paths to God,) but I will say that after years of turning away to the point of total atheism, joining a church (Methodist) band with some of my friends in high school brought really made me think. I joined more for fun and company than anything, and being around these people inspired me to adopt these Christian ideals, which became somewhat of a personal struggle. I gained a respect for Christ and the beliefs of his followers, but I eventually drifted away as I came to my own conclusions that my relationship between God and I did not require I hold specific beliefs. Anyway, the band I was in was most certainly not based on your criteria. There were others who were of more questionable character and intention than I, and the church was eager to welcome us - one, simply for the sake of the band, justified by the fact that the music might draw more young people into church - and two, that the band members who weren’t committed to Christ (as well as their friends and peers of similar mind) might be drawn to the religion through constant exposure.
Just my thoughts.